ISI Certification for Safety Shoes Explained: IS 15298 vs IS 17043

What is ISI Certification?

ISI stands for Indian Standards Institute, the former name of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The ISI mark is a certification mark granted by BIS to products that conform to specific Indian Standards. It is one of the most recognised quality marks in the country.

For safety footwear, the ISI mark confirms that the shoes have been tested and certified at BIS-recognised laboratories for parameters like impact resistance, compression strength, sole durability, and electrical properties. Without this certification, a manufacturer cannot legally sell safety shoes under the mandatory BIS scheme.

The ISI mark appears as the familiar triangle-with-ISI logo stamped on the product, accompanied by a CM/L number (licence number) that uniquely identifies the manufacturer. This number can be verified directly on the BIS website.

IS 15298:2024 — PU Leather Safety Footwear

IS 15298 is the Indian Standard for polyurethane (PU) soled leather safety footwear. The 2024 revision brings updated testing protocols aligned with international benchmarks, making it one of the most rigorous safety shoe standards in the country.

What This Standard Covers

IS 15298 applies to safety shoes with a leather or synthetic leather upper bonded to a PU (polyurethane) sole — either single density or dual density. These shoes are designed for heavy-duty industrial environments where mechanical hazards are the primary concern.

Key Testing Requirements

• Toe cap impact resistance: withstands 200 J impact energy
• Toe cap compression resistance: withstands 15 kN static load
• Sole abrasion resistance and flex endurance
• Oil, acid, and alkali resistance of sole material
• Electrical hazard resistance (insulation or anti-static)
• Upper leather tensile strength and tear resistance
• Heat resistance of sole material

Who Needs IS 15298 Certified Shoes?

Workers in construction, heavy manufacturing, steel plants, infrastructure projects, and similar environments where falling objects, sharp debris, and abrasive surfaces are common hazards.

IS 17043:2024 — PVC Moulded Safety Footwear

IS 17043 governs PVC (polyvinyl chloride) moulded safety footwear. These are single-piece injection-moulded shoes where the upper and sole form a seamless unit, offering excellent chemical and fuel resistance at a lower price point than PU leather alternatives.

What This Standard Covers

IS 17043 covers safety shoes made entirely from PVC — moulded as a single unit with an embedded steel toe cap. The standard defines requirements for both the material composition and the finished product performance.

Key Testing Requirements

• Toe cap impact resistance: 200 J energy absorption
• Toe cap compression resistance: 15 kN static load
• Chemical resistance to acids, alkalis, and solvents
• Oil, chemical, and fuel resistance of sole material
• Flexibility test: resistance to cracking under repeated bending
• Insulation resistance for electrical protection
• Accelerated ageing test for long-term durability
• Density and hardness requirements for PVC compound

Ideal Environments

PVC moulded safety shoes excel in wet environments, chemical processing plants, food and beverage facilities, agriculture, and general industrial settings where moisture and chemical splashes are everyday hazards.

IS 15298 vs IS 17043: Side-by-Side Comparison

How to Verify ISI Certification

Counterfeit ISI marks are a real problem in the Indian safety footwear market. Here is how to verify that a pair of safety shoes is genuinely certified:

Why Buy ISI Certified Safety Shoes?

Choosing ISI certified safety footwear is not just a matter of preference — in many cases, it is a legal requirement.

• Legal Compliance: Under the Factories Act and various state safety regulations, employers are required to provide certified personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers. Non-ISI safety shoes do not meet this requirement and can result in penalties during inspections.
• Workplace Safety Standards: Many large companies, government projects, and EPC contractors mandate ISI certified safety shoes as part of their PPE policy. Supplying non-certified shoes can disqualify vendors from tenders and contracts.
• Insurance Implications: In the event of a workplace injury, insurance claims may be rejected if the injured worker was not wearing certified PPE. ISI certification provides documented proof that the footwear meets national safety standards.
• Guaranteed Performance: The ISI mark guarantees that the shoes have passed rigorous third-party testing for impact resistance, compression strength, sole durability, and other critical parameters. Without this testing, there is no objective assurance of protection.

Komico & Komisafe: A Dual-Certified Range

JMDi Safezone LLP is one of the few manufacturers in India that holds both IS 15298 and IS 17043 certifications under a single facility. Our manufacturing unit in Sonipat, Haryana produces two distinct product lines:

Both product lines are manufactured under strict quality control at our Sonipat facility, with regular BIS audits ensuring ongoing compliance. Every shoe that leaves our factory carries a genuine ISI mark with a verifiable CM/L number.